A man who says he was thrown off of a malfunctioning stair-climbing machine at a Southeast Portland 24 Hour Fitness is suing the company for $175,000.

Daniel Alcazar Jr. claims he was using a stair-climbing machine at the health club at the exercise chain's Mall 205 location on Sept. 5, 2012, when the machine spontaneously accelerated “without input” from Alcazar. He was pitched to the floor, the suit states.

Alcazar claims he tore muscles in his chest, shoulder and arm -- and his medical bills have reached about $25,000. He also seeks $150,000 in noneconomic damages, also known as pain and suffering.

A representative from the company, based in Carlsbad, Calif., couldn’t immediately be reached for a comment.

The lawsuit did not specify the model of machine. The suit was filed Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court by Portland attorney Willard Merkel.